This virtual demo has been set up by Barbara LeFranc of Le Bulletin des Levriers, to demand the banning of hunting with galgos. Not sure how it works, see Barbara’s comment below. It’s in French, but don’t let that stop you voting if you want to.
My comment on a demand such as this is, whilst to be applauded in principle, is not what is required. The effect of a ban on hunting with galgos will simply be to drive the ‘sport’ underground. Hunting with greyhounds in the UK was banned many years ago. The effect has been to drive it underground. I have personal experience of this, having lived for many years in rural Suffolk, just north of London.
Word goes out ‘on the circuit’ to meet at a certain location, often after haymaking or combining – where the grass/stubble is short. A few cars will arrive, filled with men, greyhounds, and hares in cages. Two dogs will be set up, a hare released, and the men will bet. By the time the police have been notified, the men, dogs and vehicles will have moved on elsewhere.
For those of you who followed the news of the recent riots in the UK, events such as the above can be organised on Facebook, Twitter, mobile phones, with great speed and effectiveness.
If this can happen on the small island of Britain, how much easier will it be in a country the size of Spain.
A ban on hunting with galgos is NOT the answer. Controlled breeding, registration, controlled conditions in which the dogs are kept, controlled disposal of dogs injured or sick; but especially the control of indiscriminate breeding. And it is the hunting associations who need to take action – it is they who cause the problems.
We are all entitled to our opinion on this subject, so I post this virtual demo request for those of you who wish to join. Barbara raises some good alternative points. See her comment below.
I will not be signing as I personally do not believe this is the answer to the problem.
Comments
6 responses to “Ban hunting with galgos – a virtual demonstration to join – my comments”
I agree. To sign petitions is great but there needs to be a thought out focus as to why the petition was written and by who? Who is the target audience? Since a ban dosen´t work there is no point in banning. You said it all. Keep it out in the open find the responsibel parties and charge them with the emense cruelty to both wildlife as well as the galgoes themselves. This is where we should fight for the poor galgoes the hunting season began just two days ago. I wonder how many galgoes have already been killed in the name of this blood sport. The poor galgoes are suffering none stop out there in Hellish Spain. Many people rescue them and some adopt them others donate others again alert as many as possibel to the plight of these sadly neglected sight hounds we can all do our part so let´s shame the hunters and their asociations for their blood stained “sport” overbreeding and mistreatment + murder of the poor animals through out Spain let´s support the rescuers and shelters if we can let us let them feel isolated and unwanted just as they do with their poor galgoes. shame them out make their atrocious acts as public as possibel shout from ever roof top and never give up the good fight. Thanks for sharing and know I will do my part as best I can. with all my love and warmth Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen Greyhound Action Denmark.
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Thanks for your comments and input, I always like
to read the view of other people. And thank you for all you do to help the
galgos and greys from your base in Denmark.
Amities
Beryl
Hi Beryl, first of all this is not a petition BUT a virtual demo against hunting with Galgos. It was set by.. me… The way the website hosting the demo presents the infos about who wrote it and to whom it is aimed to is not great, I agree on that point.
I still believe banning is the only way out for the Galgos, nothing will change otherwise, see all the other european countries in which hunting with sighthounds is forbidden : no big scale abuse is occuring in any of them.
Regulation will not work with people who do not care AT ALL about the dogs. Of course if the ban happens there will be residual underground activities but the huge amount of neglected, abandonned and killed Galgos would decrease tremendously, year after year, until there remains only pet Galgos in Spain doing “pet-Galgos” activities… like in the other countries…
So, I do not know yet if I will be able to retrieve the names of the people who will join the demo (still have to get in touch with the e-manif website webmaster).
Sorry for my clumsy english, but I guess you will catch the general idea…
Take care and keep on the good work, all of you.
*.·
..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Barbara LEFRANC, Présidente.
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* le Bulletin Des Lévriers -:¦:-
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Bonjour Barbara
Firstly, both you and I know your English is
extremely good. I will alter the wording in my post, as on the website it says
petition which is misleading, and it is important that people know exactly
what they are being asked to put their names to. Your comments are
invaluable, educated discussion is very welcome, it is important people consider
all aspects of the problem for the galgos, and lets not forget the podencos,
especially on the Spanish Islands. Changing the law in Spain should also
encompass the Spanish Islands. Dogs used for hunting in Europe, whether
galgos or other breeds, generally suffer cruelty and maltreatment at the hands
of the hunters. I remember posting a couple of years ago about the
suffering of greyhounds going to Romania.
If you have time to write and explain exactly how
this virtual demo will work and what will happen to it, Im sure everyone will
be very interested.
Thanks for all you do for the galgos and
podencos.
Amities
Beryl
Banning works but ONLY if it is inforced by the law and the punishment is great enough. So this needs to be banned, the ban needs to be enforced, and punishment for breaking the band needs to be BIG.
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Bonjour
I agree, but going on past performance, the Spanish
authorities wouldnt enforce the ban, because many of them are hunters!
Which is why I say its not the answer.
Amities
Beryl